Sunday, January 6, 2013

2013 Denver Fly Fishing Show

The 2013 nymphing season is on! (Not that the season in
Northern Colorado is ever over…) My buddy and I officially announce the “start”
to our season by attending the annual Fly Fishing Show in Denver. The show is a
time that we reflect on the seasons past, look at new gear, dream about trips we
can’t afford, and seek to pick the brains of area and nationally recognized
masters to improve our skills.

The show is three days long and depending on the season; we
typically attend one or two days. This year, I was able to be there two days. The
show has been coined by some as “the fly fisher’s garage sale”, “a fly fishing
swap meet”, or a number of other phrases
that describe a group of fly fishers gathered to get an edge that will catch them more fish, improve their skills, belong
to a not so secret society, or look for that elusive “deal”. We start our day
bright and early, grab our traditional cup of coffee and breakfast. We arrive
an hour early, like expectant kids. The
show begins for us in the parking lot looking at all of the fishing rigs!
Everything from the unsuspecting Subaru Outback to the decal adorned fly
fishing machine with multiple hi tech, high end, fly fishing rod vaults!

The doors open and the lines to get admission tickets form.
I get a sense that everyone is fighting for a position on the river in hopes of finding the first fisht. This year’s show had approximately 17 fly tyers, 124 vendor
booths, and three days of speakers, authors, casting demonstrations and classes
for all levels. The crowds were larger than normal; yet a sense of camaraderie
and not the pushing and shoving you would expect at a gathering of this size.

Show highlights this year included talking with Charlie
Hansel, the Grand Junction chapter representative of Project Healing Waters, www.projecthealingwaters.org.
Project Healing Waters is “dedicated to
the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service
personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.”
Bruce Peck, brucelpeckjr@yahoo.com, is starting a
chapter in Northern Colorado. Stand by for more on this amazing opportunity to
give back to those that have given so much for our country and way of life!
THANK YOU TO ALL SERVICE PERSONNEL AND
THEIR FAMILIES.

The creativity and amazing flies that are produced by the
seemingly effortless skills that the fly tyers have humble anyone that has ever sat in front of a vise. The
fly tying beginner or expert could enjoy demonstrations, speak with celebrity fly
tyers', or participate in the many tying classes. It is always a pleasure to speak with and
watch Northern Colorado’s very own, Rick Takahashi , angler, fly tyer and
author of Modern Midges.Ed
Engle, no need for introduction to the nymphing world, demonstrated tremendous
skill tying small (micro) flies! Other
notables included Dave Whitlock, Gary Borger, A.K. Best, Rick Hafele and Charlie
Craven.

John Geer and associates with Tenkara USA were educating the masses on the
Tenkara fishing system and it was very exciting to see how the Tenkara approach
to fly fishing is growing in the country. I enjoyed spending time looking at
new models of the Tenkara rods, talking with John and watching others
interested in bringing a new approach to their nymphing arsenal.

I can’t say enough about the selection and
quality of the leaders produced by Mike Morin and Cutthroat Leaders. Great guys
and constantly changing up their leaders to meet the needs of the anglers that
use them. They are very responsive and have a variety of nymphing leaders to
include leaders they have built for the Tenkara system. www.cutthroatleader.com.For the bamboo enthusiast, the museum quality display that depicts the history and development of the bamboo rod is worth the price of admission in and of itself. An entire section of the show is set up for the bamboo enthusiast including, vendors, builders and bamboo restorers.You know that special book that you have in your library
that you have read and reread and then read again… The authors’ booth allowed
you to get that favorite signed by the author! Think about the nymphers in your
life and what wonderful gifts to give… a personally autographed edition of their
favorite book! A signed Gierach, “No
shortage of Good Days”, or a signed copy of your fish’in buddies
favorite Borger, Hafele, Engle, Takahashi, Craven or Best would endear you to
your fish’in buddy and get you first water without a doubt!

The show provides a number of classes, from free one hour
seminars to classes with the experts. I would recommend a notebook, and plan the
classes you want to attend as soon as you get into the show. The classes run
from around 9:00am until 4:00pm. It is amazing the wealth of information and
knowledge that is available to you to improve your nymphing skills. I listened
to Gary Borger, Rick Hafele, and Ed Engle share their knowledge about nymphing!

It warms my heart every time I see a father with his son, or
a grandfather with his grandson at the show. I reminisce back to times spent on
the river with my father and have to smile because you know the sport is in
good hands.

The Denver Fly Fishing Show is always a treat! If you have
not had a chance to attend, the show will make additional stops around the
country, www.flyfishingshow.com,
you should!

So many times I have heard this fly fishing and it was really amazing! Hopefully the can visit South Holston, TN and treat us for tennessee fly fishing show. I am really looking forward to attend that show.